Tear strip can with cable loop pull



Aug. 12, 1952 J, HENCHERT 2,606,688

`rrEAR STRIP CAN WITH CABLE LooP PULL Filed Nov. 22, 194s `Patented Aug. 12, 1952 TEAR STRIP CAN WITH CABLE LOGR- PULL John Henchert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 22, 194s, serial No.` 61,436

s claims. (o1. zzo-54) The invention relates generally to metallic receptacles. and more particularly to cans having tear strips adapted to be torn away easily and quickly in gaining access to articles packaged in the cans, and it primarily seeks to provide a novel can structure of the character stated embodying a novel cable loop pull which will permit the tearing away of the tear strip by gloved hands.

Tear strip cans are well known, the tear strips therein usually being defined by parallel score lines and ending in a free tongue to which a key is attached by a person seeking to open the can, and adapted to be torn out to effect such opening by being wound on said key.

Such can structures are quite satisfactory in general use, but the use of winding keys has been found unsatisfactory when conditions of use required manipulation of the keys by gloved hands, as in cold weather. 'Examples of such uses are those by peacetime arctic or antarctic expeditions, or military uses by glove Wearing soldiers. An outstanding example is to be found in the use of ammunition cans in are-as in which extreme cold requires constant Wearing of heavy protective mittens. `It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a tear strip can of the character stated in which there is attached to the tear strip an anchor plate and an'extended open loop pull through which aA glove or mitten encased hand may readily be inserted incidental to the tearing away of the tear strip by a pull on said loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tear strip can of the character stated in which the strip tongue extension is secured to a generally rectangular and flat plate having parallel spaced side edges` curled over and gripping the ends of an extended cable pull loop, thereby to secure the loop to said tongue as a medium through which the tear strip 'may readily be torn away to effect an opening of the can, and in a manner for holding the loop open so as to facilitate insertion of a gloved or mitten encased hand therein incidental to the tearing away of said strip. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cable loop pull for use on tear strip cans and comprising a generally rectangular and nat plate having a cross slot at one end through which to receive the tongue extension of the tear strip of a can, and parallel side edges curled over and gripping the ends of an open pull loop extending from the plate at the end thereof opposite the slotted end.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several viewsillustrated in the accompanying drawings,

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a can structure embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tcp portion of the can structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken through the can body tear strip and the attached cable loop pull, the section being taken on the line 3 3 onFigure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 4 4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail face View illustrating the cable loop pull per se.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the can structure includes a body having side walls 5 and end walls 6, being formed from the usual blank having its ends brought together in the form of the usual lock and lap side seam 1. While the invention may be incorporated in can structures of any approved shape, the can structure disclosed herein is of the oblong type with round corners and the can end is closed at top and bottom by the usual end closures 8 and`9 which may be secured to the can body by the usual double roll seam IU as illustrated in Figure 4.

The can -body is provided with parallel score lines Il, preferably internally of the body and defining a tear strip I2. At the position of the side seam 'I the score lines pass at one end through the intermediate lap portion I3, and at the other end through the fiat end extremity of the blank where the defined tear strip extends as a free tongue I4;

The cable loop pull per sel is shown in detail in Figure 5 and includes a generally rectangular and flat plate I5 having a reduced width end portion I6 which is equipped with atransverse slot I'I. The open cable loop I8 extends from the end of the'v plate opposite'theslotted end portion I6 and has its ends I 9 in position for loverlying the parallel side edge portions of the'plate I5 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The parallel side edge portions of theplate I5 are curled over the cable loop ends I9 as at 20 so as to grip said ends and rmly secure them to the plate, and in order to additionally secure the cable loop I3 against pulling out, the gripping curls may be indented as at 2 I.

The assembled condition of the pull loop is clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The tear strip tongue I4 is initially angle bent as indicated at I22 in dotted lines in Figure 3 so that said end portion can fbe inserted through the slot I1 in the plate end extension I6, and then the extended end of the tongue is curled over as at 23 to secure the loop I8, the plate l5 and the tongue extension in assembly in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 3. It will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing that the loop I8 extends about one corner and along one side of the can body, and the free end thereof may be temporarily secured against the side wall, if desired, by use of adhesive tape 24 as shown in Figure 2.

It Will be readily apparent that Iby grasping the cable loop I8 and pulling the same, the tear strip may be quickly and easily torn out so as to open the can and obtain access to the ammunition or other articles packaged therein. The long open loop, held in spaced relation by the securing curls 2U of the plate l5 will readily permit the insertion therein of the hand of a person Wearing gloves or heavy mittens, thus enabling the opening of the cans in very cold places without necessary removal of gloves or mittens. The use of this type of cable loop pull dispenses with the use of the conventional winding keys which could not be satisfactorily manipulated by hands encased in gloves or mittens. Such winding keys also are impractical in effecting the removal of tear strips from large cans, such strips being so long that they will not track on previously wound portions but will slide off and make it almost impossible to complete the tearing of the strip from the can body in effecting the removal of the closure top portion.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to ybe clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a metallic receptacle, a body having score lines extending thereabout and defining a tear strip ending in a free tongue extension and adapted to be torn out in effecting an opening of the receptacle, a loop pull attached to said tongue and extending therefrom in the direction of free extension of said tongue for facilitating the tearing out of the tear strip, said pull including a wire cable loop of a length sufficient to permit ready insertion of a gloved or mitten encased hand, and a generally rectangular and fiat plate attached at one end to said tongue and having parallel spaced side edges spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the tongue and curled over and gripping the ends of said pull loop, thereby to secure the loop to said tongue with its curl gripped ends spaced apart as a medium through which the tear strip may readily be torn away to effect an opening of the receptacle, and in a manner for holdig the loop open so as to facilitate insertion of a gloved or mitten encased hand therein incidental to the tearing away of said strip.

2. In a metallic receptacle, a body having score lines extending thereabout and defining a tear strip ending in a free tongue extension and adapted to be torn out in effecting an opening of the receptacle, a loop pull attached to said tongue and extending therefrom in the direction of free extension of said tongue for facilitating the tearing out of the tear strip, said pull including a generally rectangular and flat plate attached at one end to said tongue and having parallel spaced side' edges spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the tongue and curled over and gripping the ends of a pull loop, thereby to secure the loop to said tongue as a medium through which the tear strip may readily be torn away to effect an opening of the receptacle, said loop pull being dimensioned to extend from its attachment with the tongue about the receptacle body a distance greater than the span of an adult hand encased in a glove or mitten, and means for removably attaching the free end of the pull loop against the receptacle body.

3. In a metallic receptacle, a body having score lines extending thereabout and defining a tear strip ending in a free tongue extension and adapted to be torn out in effecting an opening of the receptacle, a loop pull attached to said tongue and extending therefrom in the direction of free extension of said tongue for facilitating the tearing out of the tear strip, said pull including a generally rectangular and ilat plate attached at one end to said tongue and having parallel spaced side edges spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the tongue and curled over and gripping the ends of a pull loop, thereby to secure the loop to said tongue as a medium through which the tear strip may readily be torn away to eifect an opening of the receptacle, and in a manner for holding the loop open so as to facilitate insertion of a gloved or mitten encased hand therein incidental to the tearing away of said strip, said attachment of the loop pull to the tongue being by Way of a narrow slot formed in the flat plate to lie perpendicular to the center line of the tear strip and its tongue extension, and the threading of the free end of the tongue through said slot and the bending of said tongue over upon itself to secure the attachment,

JOHN HENCHERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: l

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

